An interesting thing about spiritual warfare is the battle isn’t just around you. It’s inside you as well.
In a few situations, I tend to have two competing voices in my head. Don’t laugh; you do, too.
We had an incident at work. Two shifts worked on a press that I fixed in seconds.
“I am the greatest of all time. Everyone else is an idiot.”
That’s the first voice.
The second voice reminds me of the times I made similar mistakes. Here’s your humble pie with a side of crow.
I walk away, reminded that my pride and ego are always under the surface.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13 ESV
Another thing of interest I’ve noticed lately is the intrusive thoughts that have been springing up. A few pop in like unwanted visitors. Others are a cascade, one thought about something similar yet unrelated and then another and another. Distracting. Inappropriate.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
The book I mentioned in Victory? references 2 Corinthians 10:5.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Tony Evans says capture it and evict them by saying, “these aren’t God’s thoughts; I capture them in the name of Jesus and evict them.”
Of course, it helps if you’re not watching stuff that will feed these thoughts: garbage in, garbage out.
As we fast and pray for the 40 Days of Victory, it’s been interesting to watch the battle play out.
A Ronin's Journey 